Wednesday, June 26, 2013

One year ago today, the day the U.S. Supreme
Court struck down DOMA (or most of it). Tom and I were waiting outside the
white marble court house edifice with thousands of others. Two reporters
published some of what we had to say. Our quotes were picked up in media
outlets around the world that day.

"Being
openly gay in America has been a very huge challenge. You're still seeing discrimination
and obstafication within the cultures of corporate America. You can see it's
starting to change with young people... It's very different now for young
people, how they interact with you. It's not really changed with folks who are
our age."

"It's
very exciting, rewarding. It's been a long journey"

"Young
people hopefully (won't face discrimination). It will be much more of a
normative environment."

"I
remember... when my gayness was as bad as a bad perfume. This is all stuff that
I've lived through."

"I'm
going to be able to be on my husband's health care plan in terms of health care
benefits. That's huge.”

"We
now have federal rights. I burst out into tears when this decision..."
trails off, choked up

"The
United States is the most powerful nation on earth. The last time the most
powerful nation in the world allowed
gays to not be persecuted was Rome. Fifteen hundred years. Think about that.
Fifteen hundred years of oppression... This is a dramatic change in the history
of the world and it can't be understated."

"We
first got married in West Hollywood about 12 years ago. It was the only city in
the entire country at the time that allowed gay marriage... We attempted to get
married in Massachusetts... but they didn't have reciprocity so we couldn't get
married because we lived in the District. So we went and got married in the
District. That's our journey."

Robert Westover, 49, Public Affairs, D.C., married to
Fulton in 2001

The original posting from last year:

My Flag Waving Hero!

My husband, Tom Fulton, was at the Supreme Court in 1986 protesting the horrible Hardwick ruling. He said the treatment of Gay protesters that day was so bad that the cops wore plastic gloves so as not to have to come in contact with "The Gays." What a difference 27 years makes!

Tom and me right after the ruling on DOMA

Today, the horrific and discriminatory so called Defense of Marriage Act was overturned by five Justices of the United States Supreme Court. These enlightened and wonderful Justices deserve the LGBT community's unending gratitude and they will no doubt receive the adoration of posterity. But what about those four losers Jackass Justices?I don't know where to begin, so I'll focus on the one Jackass Justice I have actually met. And by doing so would like to point out the cowardice and particular narrow mindedness of this man, The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, John Roberts. Two years ago Tom and I attended an intimate Christmas concert at the Dunbarton Church in Georgetown. The Chief Justice and his family sat directly in front of us in the small edifice. During intermission Tom approached Mr. Roberts, and with the audacity of a man oppressed by men like Robert's his entire life said, "I really hope that when a case on Gay rights reaches your court that you won't vote against my rights as a equal citizen of this country..." You could have heard a pin drop. Unfortunately, but predictably, this misguided man of letters did exactly as expected and has now joined those on the wrong side of history--think Dred Scott, Mr. Roberts (et al).

Tom being interviewed by the world press after the death of DOMA!!!

So here's a proud Marine's OOORAH to my flag waving Gay Rights activist husband who has been fighting for our rights since the 1970s! And has never once hid in the closet! I love you so much! You are my hero!

About Me

I am a third generation U.S. Marine, and a professional writer of articles, blogs and humorous columns. Through my historic preservation efforts, I was the subject many national news stories, including ABC World News Tonight (2000), The New York Times (1998/2003), and the BBC (1998/2000). My humorous "Lord Westover" blog was nominated to the Washington Post's "Best Blog Award" by its readers and mentioned in the Christian Science Monitor. I am the co-author of the well-received "S.S. United States – Fastest Ship in the World" (Turner). I work in environmental public affairs on climate change issues. Peter Jennings honored me on an ABC World News Tonight segment called 21st Century Lives (September 7th, 2000) for my efforts to save our national flagship. Both my grandfather and I have been quoted in The Wall Street Journal and highlighted in the History Channel’s “The History of Veteran’s Day” documentary. I'm happily married to Thomas E. Fulton (finally found someone to put-up with me!).